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Damien is the common name for the god of death associated with judgment, ravens, peaches, architecture and the afterlife. In the dwarven language, Damien is known as Vamertod, to the tieflings as Treiochi and to the elves as Dymonn. Though he has many names, only the his priests say them aloud. Damien's name is considered too fearsome to speak which has lead to the enormous amount of epithets awarded to him.

Whenever someone dies, Damien is there to traffic their souls to their final rest. He is not the one who takes life, that business is left to Helos, Damien is the one who judges the dead and takes responsibility for their souls. Only Verai Songbird may overturn Damien's judgments which is allowed due to Damien's respect for his brother's wisdom. And only legeon has been granted immunity from Damien's grace.

He is the guardian of graveyards and tombs. Since nobility tends to bury the dead with jewels or other wealth, Damien is said to possess anything that is buried with a body making him a very rich deity, though never greedy.

Damien serves as a mediating power, especially between good and evil, making sure neither has a decisive victory over the other. In his realm, the Echoing, he appears as a three-eyed raven who judges the dead and send them to their rightful resting place in the realms.

He is the master of divine law and serves with Verai Songbird and Legeon as the arbitrators of the gods. He is served by dark angel-like creatures called asunas. They are charged with finding souls who have lost their way or have somehow escaped Damien's judgment.

In the mortal world, Damien sees through the eyes of ravens, especially the red feathered crypt ravens which are said to be his favorite. He is the enemy of all who would try to escape their final judgment and those who would steal souls under his charge. Necromancers and the like are hated by his clergy and are hunted relentlessly. Damien is known for his terrible vengeance on those who break his laws.

He is also associated with fog and wolves. For their mournful cry always sounds when someone has died too soon. He also seems to be favored by Tala Errin and they appear together in many stories.

Damien is said to have a love for peaches. It has become a tradition to bring peaches to a funeral in hopes to persuade Damien to judge the soul favorably and give them a pleasant afterlife.

Damien sees the birth and death of every living thing. When one is born, Damien watches them and as they live, he builds the house that will house them in the afterworlds. It is said that no material building could ever compare to the wondrous structures that Damien creates. It is this reason he is looked upon as a patron of architects.

His consort is said to have been a former exarch of Tala Errin, wild and free, but was seduced by Damien and changed into the dark queen of death.

Worship

During funeral rights, priests of Damien wear black robes accented with red feathers and a black mask to represent Damien himself presiding over the services.

Priests of Damien also often make wine and store the casks in their crypts. The wine from a Damenic temple is highly prized.

His festival is held every 100 years in the waning months.

In popular imagery, he is portrayed as a grim and humorless cloaked humanoid figure with the face of a three eyed raven. In the rare instances Damien chooses to manifest himself, he usually appears as a violent storm of wind and crows. He is represented in art as a raven or crow facing to the right, or as a waxing crescent moon. Damien's symbolism is always facing right as the clergy sees the life line as beginning on the left and ending on the right.

Groups

Several different sects of Damien's clergy have vastly different goals and beliefs. One such group is the Midnight Circus. A group of holy assassins hunting down wicked souls so they may face judgment and allow good men to live in peace.

The Seven Songs of Death

Each song was originally written in a different language.

A Fool Am I (Elven): The Fool's song is about a man (or commonly an elf) who is unafraid of death and walks through the woods, narrowly missing every deadly obstacle after being warned about them. "Watch for the wolf, watch for the snake pit, watch for the cliff for falling down; I see no wolf, I see no snake pit, I see no cliff for falling down". Against everyone's warnings, he wishes to remain a fool for "wise-men are always dying in their beds". This song has become a popular tavern song, and while originally composed in elven, it has a wide spread version in common.

Song of the Fearful (Common): A song to comfort in the face of danger

Song of the Wounded (Giant): A song to hope for health and recovery.

Song of the Dying (Dwarven): A song to sing to Damien to hurry finish building their mansion in the afterlife.

Song of the Dead (Draconic): A song of last rights to be sung by mourners during a funeral.

Song of Remembrance (Halfling): A short song to be sung by those who remember the dead upon thinking of their memory. Sung throughout life.

Song of the Risen (Celestial): A seventh song to be sung by those appearing in the afterlife. Or perhaps sung upon the event of a resurrection.